Interlocking rails for picket fences



Oct. 11, 1955 E. F. sLowlK 2,720,382

INTERLOCKING RAILS FOR PICKET FENCES Filed May 14, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent '0 INTERLOCKING RAILS FOR PICKET FENCES Edward F. Slowik, Chicago, Ill. Application May 14, 1954, Serial No. 429,803

2 Claims. (Cl. 256-22) My invention relates to conventional picket fences, and more particularly to the rails which hold them in place. Pickets are more or less standard in form and size, and it is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a type of rail which may be adapted readily to a line of pickets to hold them together without involved securing means.

A further object is to provide a rail of the above character which is composed of companion sheet metal strips applicable to opposite sides of the pickets, in order that the same may be retained between the strips.

Another object is to secure the novel rail to the pickets by simple means, such as bolts or even nails.

An additional object is to design the rail strips with coacting sections forming separators for the pickets and reinforcing the rail in the spaces between the same.

A still further object is to construct the rail strips with a succession of sections, some of which overlap in the spacing regions of the pickets, while others remain to form side supports for the same.

An important object is to build the novel rail along lines of extreme simplicity, and in a manner to be cut and formed by machine operations.

' With the above objects in view, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a series of fence pickets equipped with the improved rail, and showing a connection with an end post;

Figs. 2 and 3 are, respectively, magnified sections on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fragment of one rail strip; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, showing the application of the rail where the fence has a lateral curvature or deviation.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawing indicates a series of conventional fence pickets at 10. As seen in Fig. 1, such series may originate or terminate adjacent to a fence post 11, which usually is in the form of a pipe receiving a cap 12.

The strips 15 composing the novel fence rail are of sheet metal and identical in construction. They are produced from a single strip of metal, passed through a suitable cutting and forming machine, and cut to required lengths for each job, according to the spacing of the fence posts 11. Then the strips lengths 15 are assembled in pairs with the pickets between them to form each fence section. Thus, each strip has its main portion 15a applicable horizontally along one side of the pickets 10. The strips 15 are slitted inwardly as at 17a from the top at points spaced as the pickets to define top sections 17 and 18. The sections 17 remain coplanar with the strip 15, supplementing the latter as a side support for the pickets 10. However, the sections 18 between pickets 10 are bent down to horizontal positions in an inward direction. Since a pair of the rail strips are applied from opposite sides to the pickets, the sections 18 are assembled in overlapping order.

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Also, so that the assembledstrips 15, 15 shall be mutually supported against relative vertical shifting, alternate ones of the horizontal picket spacing sections 18 of each strip overlap the opposite sections 18 of the other strips as suggested in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the rail strips have been assembled as described, they are secured to the pickets by sets of cross-bolts 20 and 21, the cross-bolt 20 being tapped to receive the shank of the cross-bolt 21 within it, as shown in Fig. 3. This is a smooth form of fastening, but the rail strips 15-15 may be secured to the pickets 111} other means if the particular type of cross-bolts is not available. The rail formed from the connected strips 15-15 now secures the upper portions of the pickets in. proper relation; and it goes without saying that a similar rail installation is applicable to the lower portions of the pickets. The line of pickets may be secured to the post 11 at each end by a suitable band 25 wrapped over the post and extended with wings 26 which overlap the rail 15, 15 and are secured with it to the first picket by a cross-bolt set 2021. Similarly, in case the post 11 occurs at an intermediate point in the fence, the band and wing formation 25, 26 will readily suggest to those versed in the art how connection to the fence sections should be made.

It will now be apparent that the novel duplicate strip 15 provided fence rail primarily presents a continuous pair of spaced walls in the main section of the strip 15 for the side support of the intervening pickets 10, each of such walls 15 being supplemented in upward direction by the picket sustaining extensions 17 for purposes of additional support. These extensions 17 may be cut with an ornamental trim, as indicated at 30, as a matter of design. The intermediate and overlapping sections 18 of the rail primarily form a fixed spacing element for the pickets; and they serve further to reinforce the upper portion of the rail at points between the pickets, so that the rail will not buckle or warp at such points. Further, the fastening of the rail 15-15 is confined to a single location relative to each picket in order to support the rail and keep it in engagement with the picket.

Since pickets are commonly available, the novel fence rail may be furnished in hardware and garden supply stores in any length desired for easy application by a person handy with tools, the crossbolts and the end or intermediate post connections being available as accessories. Where the fence is apt to take a lateral curve or deviation, as suggested in Fig. 5, it is only necessary to saw small oblique notches 35 in the sides of the pickets to permit the horizontal sections 18 of the strip which is on the outside of the curve to find clearances in the sides of the pickets. Thus, the material entering into the novel rail is very simple and should be inexpensive, since the inside and outside rail material is identical, and a simple strip of the material-cut and formed as statedmay be fed continuously to produce both members of the rail rapidly and efliciently; and the work of assembling the fence is comparatively easy for any mechanically inclined person.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minor changes or refinements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I reserve the right to employ all such changes and refinements as may come Within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fence providing laterally spaced vertical pickets, a rail comprising a pair of duplicate horizontally positioned strips applicable to the opposite outer sides of the pickets and providing picket-sustaining portions, each strip providing normally extending inturned picket-spacing flange members which occupy the space between the pickets, said flange members of one strip overlying the flange members of the other strip and alternate strips on one side overlie corresponding flange members on the opposite side, whereby to retain the strips against relative vertical shifting movement prior to fastening the strips to the pickets, and means for securing the strips to the latter.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said picket-sustaining portions extend above the plane of said flange members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gustafson ."1 Jan. 24, 1939 Edwards Nov. 25, 1947 Hawkins Aug. 7, 1951 

